Even though several areas of the HeartMate II are textured, a protocol was adopted for this new
axial flow pump requiring long-term anticoagulation with warfarin. In our study, we investigated whether the HeartMate II left ventricular assist device is associated with a similarly low thromboembolic risk as the HeartMate XVE.
Methods: At our institution, 45 patients (mean age, 57.24 +/- 14.2 years) underwent implantation of the HeartMate II; 30 underwent bridge-to-transplantation therapy, 7 underwent destination therapy, and 8 underwent left ventricular assist device exchange for a failed XVE left ventricular assist device. Total duration of HeartMate II support was 352.13 patient-months (mean duration, 7.2 +/- 5.2 months). All 45 DNA/RNA Synthesis inhibitor patients were treated postoperatively with warfarin and aspirin. We recorded
use of these 2 medications and monthly international normalized ratios. Prospectively, we also monitored patients for any clinical thromboembolic events and for pump thrombus.
Results: Of our 45 study patients, 41 had a mean international normalized ratio of less than 2.0; of those 41 patients, 21 had a mean GSK1904529A manufacturer international normalized ratio of less than 1.6. Because of recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding episodes, 7 patients discontinued warfarin for a total duration of 39.1 patient-months. During the entire period of HeartMate II support, we noted 1 thromboembolic event. In addition, another patient had a suspected left ventricular assist device pump thrombus that resolved with a high-intensity heparin anticoagulation protocol (international normalized ratio, 1.3).
Conclusions: Our preliminary single-center analysis suggests that the HeartMate II is associated with an extremely low thromboembolic risk and with less stringent requirements for anticoagulation. Selected patients at high risk for bleeding can be safely followed with either no or extremely low anticoagulation requirements Selleckchem Ganetespib for prolonged periods.”
“Objective: Multidetector cardiac computed tomography
is commonly performed to evaluate coronary bypass grafts, but titanium clips result in significant image artifact. Multidetector cardiac computed tomographic characteristics of newly developed nonabsorbable polymer clips are unknown. This study was undertaken to compare the image characteristics of polymer clips and titanium clips applied to a vascular model.
Methods: A vascular model was created with two porcine internal thoracic arteries. Branches were ligated with 5 titanium clips on one vessel and 6 polymer clips on the other. Vessels were imaged under pressure with normal saline solution in a 16-detector computed tomographic scanner. Image intensity was quantified in absolute Hounsfield units for clips and adjacent lumen and then normalized to the average lumen intensity.
Results: No difference in absolute intensity was found between polymer clips and adjacent lumen (polymer clip 1021.